Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-11-18

Governor Oglesby Announces his Dee1s-
ion In the Anarchist Casss-Eisldsn and
scbwab Granted CommutatiOn-The
Others Must Hang.
SPRNGFIED, Ill, November 10.-The
decision OF the governor was announced IN
front Of the mansion at o'clock by the
private secretary of the governor. Fieiden
and ScEwab were committed to imprison-
ment for life. The rest were denied elem
ency. These, Spies, Fischer, Parsons and
Engel, viii be executed tomorrow.
TIE DECISION IN FULL.
SPRINGFIELD, November lO-Lhe follow
ing is the governors decision in full in the
anarchist case:
STATE OF ILLINOIS, Executive OFFICE,
SPRINGFIELD, NOVEaIBER 10, 1887.
On the 10th cay Of August, 1886, in the
Cook county criminal court, August Spies,
Albert R. Parsons, Samuel Eielden, Michael
SchWab, AdOlph Fischer, George Engel and
Louis Llngg were found guilty by the YER
dict OF the jury and atterW ards sentenced to
be hanged for the murder of Matthias J.
began. An appeal was taken from such
finding and sentence to the supreme court OF
the state. That court, upon a final hearing
ana after mature delIbeFatiOn, unanimously
affirmed the judgment of the court below.
The case now comes before me by petition Of
the defendants for consideration as
governor Of the state. If the
letters Of Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer,
NA5o4 ~ 4ILl8eA anu LOu4B LL4EE Q6l41AlAlA144
unconditional release, or as they express it,
liberty or death" and protesting IN the
strongest language against mercy or com
mutation OF the sentence pronounced against
them, can be considered petitions, pardon,
could 1t be granted, which might imply any
guilt whatever upon the part Of either OF
thems would not be such a VlndlcatiOn as
they demand. Executive Intervention upon
the grounds insisted upon by the four above
named persons, could in no proper sense be
deemed an exercise Of the constitutional
power to grant reprieVes, communications
and pardOns unless based upon the belief On
my part Of their entire innocence OF the
crime of which they stand convicted. A
careful consideration of the evidence IN the
record Of the trial of the parties, as well as
all alleged and claimed for them outside OF
the record, has failed to produce upon my
mind any impression tending to lmp6ach
the verdict of the jury or the judgment OF
the trial court, or of the supreme court
affirming the guilt of all these parties. Sat
lshed, therefore, as am of their guilt 1
am precluded from considering the question
of communication of the sentences of Albert
R. Parsons, Adolph Fischer, George Engel
and Louis Lingg to imprisonment IN the
penltentlary, as they emphatically declare
they VII not accept such Communication.
Samuel Eielden, Michael S5hwab and August
Spies unite IN petition for executive elem
ency. Eleldeu and SchWab, IN addition pre-
sent separate and supplementary petitions
for the communication Of their sentences.
While, as said bailIn, / am satisfied Of the
guilt of all the parties, as found by the YER
dict, Of the jury, which WAS sustained by the
judgments of the courts, a most careful con-
sideratiOn of the whole subject leads me to
the conclusion that the sentence of the law
as to Srmuei Fielden and Michael SchWab
may be modified as to each of them in the
interest of humanity and without doing Vlo-
lence to public justice. And as to the
said Samuel Fielden and Michael SchWab,
the sentence is cOmmubed to imprisonment
in the penitentiary for life. As to ali the
other named defendants 1 don't feel justified
in interfering with the sentence Of the court.
While 1 would gladly come to a different
eonclusin in regard to the sentence Of
defendants August Spies, AGOlph Fischer,
George Engel, Albert r. Parsons and
Louis Liugg, I regret to say that under
the solemn sentence of the obligations Of
my Office have been unable to do so.
RIsHARD J. OGLEsBX, Governor.